Patio Cover Comparison: Insulated vs Flat Pan vs Lattice
Choosing a patio cover comes down to how you want to use your yard — full shade, partial shade, or somewhere in between. JAM Construction Patios builds three types of custom aluminum patio covers, and every cover is built in-house by the owners of JAM Construction Patios.
All three types are made from DuraCool aluminum — made in the USA with a Duracoat XT40 paint finish. The aluminum components carry a manufacturer lifetime warranty, and every JAM build is backed by our 10-year workmanship warranty.
FLAT PAN — $27 per sq ft
Our standard solid cover, made with non-insulated flat pan panels.
Shade/heat: Full shade and full rain protection. Warmer under the cover than insulated panels on hot days.
Rain noise: You will hear rain on the metal roof.
Look: A clean, flat solid roof with a simple underside.
Best for: Dependable full shade and rain protection at our lowest solid-cover price.
LATTICE — $29 per sq ft
An open-slat roof.
Shade/heat: Partial shade — lets light and air through, so the space stays bright and breezy.
Rain noise: Not a rain cover — rain passes through the open slats.
Look: A decorative open-slat pattern that adds shade without closing in the yard.
Best for: Gardens, poolside areas, and anyone who wants shade while keeping an open, airy feel.
INSULATED SOLID — $35 per sq ft
Built with IRP insulated roof panels.
Shade/heat: Full shade, with the coolest under-cover temperature of the three types.
Rain noise: The quietest of the three in the rain.
Look: A finished ceiling look underneath.
Best for: Outdoor living rooms and anyone who plans to spend long hours under the cover.
Can’t decide? Combine them. Solid and lattice sections can be combined in one cover — for example, a solid section over your seating area with a lattice section where you want light and air. These combination covers are called “combos.”
